International Relations

The International Relations Major

The international relations major seeks to promote a sophisticated
understanding of the trans-boundary interactions of governments,
organizations, cultures and people – both in terms of how such
interactions exist today and how they can be improved in the
future. In addition, the major seeks to help students cultivate
practical analytical and communication skills that will foster
professional excellence and personal achievement.

Because it is difficult to understand our dynamic and
increasingly interdependent world through a single lens, the
major works across multiple academic disciplines, while also
providing students with the flexibility to focus upon subjects
and themes of greatest interest to them. The major draws
upon faculty and courses representing some twelve academic
programs at RWU, including political science, history,
economics, sociology, anthropology, communication, art and
art history, and languages, among others.

To study international relations is to celebrate human
endeavor, global diversity and new opportunities. At the same
time, our world is deeply troubled. From the persistence of
global poverty and disease to the threats posed by weapons of
mass destruction and regional conflicts in Asia and the Middle
East, global problems are many and often deeply disturbing.
The aim of the international relations major is to give students
the tools to flourish in the world while also encouraging
students to use these tools to help make the world more secure,
more prosperous, and more humane than it is at present.
Students are encouraged to understand the world, as it really
is, and also to engage themselves as global citizens working to
make a difference.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Majors pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in international relations
must satisfy University Core Curriculum requirements and the
College speech requirement, COMM 210. In addition, majors
must complete five international relations foundation courses;
a two-course sequence intended to promote intercultural
negotiating skills; a minimum of eight thematically-related
courses in one of four tracks: Globalization Studies; Culture
and Identity; Area Studies: Europe; or Area Studies: Non-
Western; and one final capstone course completing the major.
Majors must demonstrate minimum proficiency in a foreign
language, either by successful completion of courses at the
202-level or by test; and they must complete a sufficient
number of general electives to total 120 credits. Independent
study and study abroad are encouraged.

It is recommended that majors use core concentration
requirements to enhance their knowledge of a single discipline
or language—and to apply electives toward a related minor or
second major.

Note: Double counting courses is not permitted in meeting
requirements for the core concentration, a minor or a second major.

Foundation Requirements:

The following five courses are required of all majors and are prerequisites for many of the more advanced courses in the major.

POLSC

110

The US in World Affairs

ECON

112

Principle of Macroeconomics

HIST

102

History of Western Civilization II

SOC

100

Introduction to Sociology

POLSC

210

International Relations

Intercultural Negotiation Sequence:

All majors are required to take the following two courses. It is recommended that they be taken in the sequence which follows.

COMM

250

Intercultural Communication

Note: COMM 100 and COMM 101 are waived for IR majors as a prerequisite for COMM 250.

POLSC

335

International Negotiations

International Relations Tracks:

Majors are required to complete a minimum of eight thematically related courses from ONE of the following four tracks:

Track #1—Globalization Studies

The Globalization Studies track examines ongoing
transformations in international politics, economics and
culture. The study of globalization focuses especially upon
patterns of increasing interdependence and communication
across cultures, as well as emerging systems of global
governance and the roles of states, international organizations,
multinational corporations and transnational activist networks.
Courses are situated in fields such as political science,
economics, sociology, anthropology, management studies, and
environmental science.

Note: Courses marked with an “*” may require a non-IR prerequisite.

Requirements for this track:

POLSC

340

International Political Economy

MGMT

340

International Management

SOC

330

Globalization and Identity

Select One:

POLSC

346

Foreign Policies of Russia and China

or

POLSC

348

Rogue States, Allies, Regional Powers

Electives: Select Four electives drawn from:

AAH

122

History of Art and Architecture II

BIO

240

Concepts of Ecology*

BIO

312

Conservation Biology*

COMM

330

International Communication

ECON

350

International Trade*

ECON

360

International Macro Economics

POLSC

215

Strategy and National Security Policy

POLSC

221

Comparative Politics in the Third World

POLSC

327

Politics of the Middle East

POLSC

330

Revolution and Social Change

POLSC

344

United States and the Middle East

POLSC

346

Foreign Policies of Russia and China

POLSC

348

Rogue States, Allies, Regional Powers

POLSC

383

Global Environmental Politics

PSYCH

255

Social Psychology*

SOC

201

Social Stratification

SOC

350

Comparative Social Movements

Additional Elective Options are:

Special topics courses and independent study with permission

Participation in a Macro Seminar, Center for Macro
Projects and Diplomacy

Courses from Study abroad or relevant internship. (A
maximum of two could be counted against any two
elective courses. Directly-related courses could, in
addition, count against other IR courses.)

Courses from the other tracks (up to two courses.)

Track #2 – Culture and Identity

The Culture and Identity track track explores how myriad cultural
traditions around the globe have evolved and influenced each
other throughout history and also shaped the formation of
personal identity. While scholars today debate the possible
emergence of a universal global culture, global communication has
reinforced particular identities, attachments and allegiances along
national, ethnic, religious and tribal lines. Courses are situated in
fields such as anthropology, literature, sociology, communication,
art and architecture, political science, psychology.

Note: Courses marked with an “*” may require a non-IR prerequisite.

Requirements for this track:

ANTH

100

Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

and

One Anthropology elective with International content (select one):

ANTH

220

Self, Culture and Society**

ANTH

356

World Cultures**

ANTH

380

Culture Change and Development**

**If a student selects either ANTH 220; ANTH 356 or ANTH 380, the student may not take the same course to fulfill the electives requirement below.

and

SOC

330

Globalization and Identity

POLSC

321

Politics and Ethnic Conflict

and

Electives:

Select four electives drawn from:

ANTH

220

Self, Culture and Society

ANTH

356

World Cultures

ANTH

380

Culture Change and Development

AAH

122

History of Art and Architecture II

AAH

311

History of American Art*

AAH

312

History of Modern Art

AAH

313

Art and Architecture of Africa

AAH

323

Art and Architecture in the Islamic World

COMM

330

International Communication*

COMM

380

Visual Media in a Cultural Context*

ENG

290

British Literature II: From Romanticism to Modernism

ENG

301

Contemporary American Literature

ENG

320

Studies in Global Literatures*

ENG

360

Studies in Ethnic American Literature

MRKT

402

International Marketing*

PHIL

258

American Philosophy*

POLSC

302

Political Parties and Interest Groups*

POLSC

307

Gender in American Politics

POLSC

325

Modern European Politics

POLSC

327

Politics of the Middle East

POLSC

344

United States and the Middle East

POLSC

346

Foreign Policies of Russia and China

POLSC

348

Rogue States, Allies, Regional Powers

POLSC

383

Global Environmental Politics

PSYCH

255

Social Psychology*

PSYCH

335

Social and Emotional Development*

SOC

201

Social Stratification

SOC

230

Population and Society

THEAT

331

Modern Drama

THEAT

332

British Theatre and Performing Arts

THEAT

333

Asian Drama and Dance

Additional Elective Options are:

Special topics courses and independent study with permission

Participation in a Macro Seminar, Center for Macro
Projects and Diplomacy.

Courses from Study abroad or relevant internship. (A
maximum of two could be counted against any two elective
courses. Directly-related courses could, in addition, count
against other IR courses.)

Courses from the other tracks (up to two courses).

Track #3--Area Studies: Europe

The European Area Studies track examines the history, politics,
economics, literature, arts and cultural traditions of Europe.
Particular attention is given to the pivotal role of Europe
in shaping modernity as well as prospects for Europeanbased
international organizations, especially the European
Union, to serve as prototypes in strengthening channels of
global collaboration. The longstanding impact of Europe in
propelling economic capitalism and political liberalism is
examined alongside themes such as immigration and resurgent
nationalism. Courses are situated in fields such as economics,
history, political science, art and literature.

Note: Courses marked with an “*” may require a non-IR prerequisite.

Requirements for this track:

HIST

305

20th Century Europe

POLSC

120

Comparative Politics

POLSC

325

Modern European Politics

POLSC

346

Foreign Policies of Russia and China

Electives

Select four electives drawn from:

AAH

122

History of Art and Architecture II

ECON

360

International Macro Economics

ENG

320

Studies in Global Literatures

HIST

310

Studies in European History

HIST

331

19th Century Europe

PHIL

254

Contemporary Philosophy*

POLSC

326

Post Communist World

POLSC

340

International Political Economy

SOC

330

Globalization and Identity

Additional Elective Options are:

Special topics courses and independent study with permission

Participation in a Macro Seminar, Center for Macro
Projects and Diplomacy.

Courses from Study abroad or relevant internship. (A
maximum of two could be counted against any two
elective courses. Directly-related courses could, in
addition, count against other IR courses.)

Courses from the other tracks (up to two courses).

Track #4--Area Studies: Non-Western

The Non-Western Area Studies track examines the history, politics,
economics, literature, arts and cultural traditions of Asia, the
Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Special attention is given
to economic restructuring and political transitions to democracy
in the aftermath of colonialism as well as communism. Courses
are situated in fields such as anthropology, history, political
science, sociology and management studies.

Note: Courses marked with an “*” may require a non-IR prerequisite.

Requirements for this track:

POLSC

120

Comparative Politics

POLSC

221

Comparative Politics in the Third World

POLSC

348

Rogue States, Allies, Regional Powers

Select one from:

HIST

381

Critical Periods and Topics in Asian History**

HIST

382

Critical Periods and Topics in African History**

HIST

383

Critical Periods and Topics Latin American History**

**If a student selects either HIST 381,HIST 382 or HIST 383, the student may not take the same course to fulfill the electives requirement below.

Electives

Select four electives drawn from:

ANTH

356

World Cultures*

AAH

313

Art and Architecture of Africa

AAH

323

Art and Architecture in the Islamic World*

COMM

330

International Communication

ECON

360

International Macro Economics

HIST

381

Critical Periods and Topics in Asian History***

HIST

382

Critical Periods and Topics in African History***

HIST

383

Critical Periods and Topics Latin American History***

***A student may select one of HIST 381, 382 or 383 as an elective; which is in addition to the one HIST course required for the Non- Western track.

PHIL

212

Eastern Philosophy*

POLSC

326

Post Communist World

POLSC

327

Politics of the Middle East

POLSC

330

Revolution and Social Change

POLSC

340

International Political Economy

POLSC

344

United States and the Middle East

POLSC

428

Mexican Politics

SOC

201

Social Stratification

SOC

330

Globalization and Identity

Additional Elective Options are:

Special topics courses and independent study with permission.

Participation in a Macro Seminar, Center for Macro
Projects and Diplomacy.

Courses from Study abroad or relevant internship. (A
maximum of two could be counted against any two elective
courses. Directly-related courses could, in addition, count
against other IR courses.)

Courses from the other tracks (up to two courses).

Capstone Course:

The capstone course is intended, in most cases, to reconnect
students to the general interdisciplinary study of international
relations; and to provide culmination—and real world context--
for their personalized studies.

POLSC 386 International Law and Organization—covering
the management of international relations (including a
substantial research paper).

Language and Study Abroad:

All students are required to demonstrate at least minimum
proficiency in a foreign language, either by successful
completion of courses at the 202-level or by test.

Students entering the major without a language are
encouraged to use foreign language to meet the core
concentration requirement.

Study abroad is strongly encouraged—consideration to be given
with respect to substituting courses for the major, especially
with respect to the tracked courses.

Note: As listed above under track electives, any two courses taken
abroad or in a related internship could be used to count against
up to two elective courses in a student’s track provided they are
international in content--even if the content of these courses does
not substitute for the recommended electives.